25 February 2009

2006 Commonwealth heptathlon bronze medallist Jessica Ennis (City of Sheffield) will return to national competition on 28th February ,at the McCain Indoor City Challenge (ICC) Final at the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff, as she comes back from an ankle injury which resulted in her missing out on selection for the Beijing Olympic Games.

Ennis, who has been part of the victorious Team Sheffield for two of their three consecutive McCain ICC titles from 2006-08, will use the quality competition to prepare for an assault on this summer’s World Championship in Berlin.

She will be joined in Cardiff by a number of Aviva Great Britain &Northern Ireland teammates including:

Jenny Meadows (Wigan AC), competing for Team Manchester, who will hope to continue her run of good form seen throughout the UKA Indoors this season with one last domestic outing before her medal dash at the European Indoors in Turin 6-8 March.

Former Commonwealth and 2009 UK Indoor triple jump champion Julian Golley (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) will defend his 2008 ICC triple jump title and give Team London North a title bid boost against long term rivals Team Sheffield.

Up and coming U23 athlete Luke Cutts (Dearnside High AC) returns to defend his ICC pole vault tile for Team Sheffield and build on a promising start to the year which has seen him set a new personal best of 5.62m, take the Northern Indoor title and climb the UK rankings to second place behind former Commonwealth bronze medallist Steve Lewis (Newham & Essex Beagles)

World Junior 400m hurdles silver medallist Meghan Beesley (Birchfield Harriers) has used competition over 400m and 60m flat in the indoor season to prepare for GB&NI U23 international competition this summer and will do so again in Cardiff making an outing in the 400m for Team Sheffield.

Nick Vermont, Regional CEO at McCain Foods said:

“McCain is delighted to support the McCain Indoor City Challenge which develops and nurtures UK athletics talent.  Our consumers understand that we make good, simple food which is typically low in salt and saturated fat. Whilst we play key role in reducing ‘calories in’ we also feel we have a role to play in addressing ‘calories out’ – promoting a healthy balanced lifestyle.  Our partnership with UKA will help develop talent at grassroots level and help to find the champions of tomorrow.”

Each match comprises a full timetable of events for indoor track and field and will conclude with a medley relay. The top three scoring teams in each of the semi-finals will be invited to compete at the ICC Final in Cardiff, plus the two best runners up to make eight teams at the final.

The McCain ICC Trophy will be presented to the overall winning team and prize money paid to all athletes in the 1st placed team at the Semi-Finals & 1st, 2nd & 3rd placed teams at the Final. A total prize fund of £20,000 is up for grabs.

Spectator Entry is FREE!

For more information visit: http://www.uka.org.uk/competitions/indoor-city-challenge